Tee with word game

ABSTRACT

A golf tee having indicia thereon with alphanumeric characters which spell out a word or name in one order, but which are printed on the tee in a scrambled order. The mental exercise of determining the actual word or name relaxes a golfer who is about to strike a ball which has been placed on the tee. Optionally, additional indicia may spell out a name such as for advertising purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to golf tees, and more particularly with indicia placed on a golf tee to generate a word game associated therewith.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many people play golf. Golf is a game in which the ability to concentrate is of paramount importance. One of the most critical moments of need for concentration is during the swing of a golf club as the club head approaches the ball. Yet ability to concentrate may disappear when conscious effort is exerted to produce concentration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides apparatus and method which affords an opportunity to concentrate on a minor task in a manner which removes immediate conscious attention from the act of hitting a golf ball. A golf tee is provided with alphanumeric characters printed thereon which are components of a word or the like, but in scrambled order. The minute exercise of mentally rearranging the alphanumeric characters to determine the actual word constitutes a brief respite from the usual pressure of trying to force concentration on hitting a golf ball. Because this exercise is uncritical to the game and is so uncomplicated, it provides an ideal distracting activity that will reduce stress while not unduly removing focus from the game of golf.

An advantage of the invention is that placing the scrambled characters on a golf tee removes the necessity of providing other apparatus for bearing the scrambled characters. Also, the act of gazing at the ball, once set in place on the tee, serves as a reminder of the exercise of rearrangement and determining of the word, so as to further reduce over concentration on the swing, and consequent stress.

It is an object of the invention to provide an activity which may serve as a temporary distraction from stressful concentration on the mechanics of playing golf.

Another object is to limit the demands of the distracting activity in terms of time and physical effort.

A further object of the invention is to limit apparatus which is needed for generating limited or minor distracting activities.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a golf tee with a first indicia imprinted thereon, which indicia corresponds to a word of the English language, but wherein the order of the constituent letters has been scrambled.

FIG. 2 is the opposite side view of a golf tee in FIG. 1 having a second indicia imprinted thereon, wherein the indicia corresponds to an example of a company name.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a golf tee 10 which comprises a shaft 12 having a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16. A lateral surface 18 is disposed between the proximal end 14 and the distal end 16. The proximal end 14 comprises an enlarged head 20. The enlarged head 20 may bear and end surface 22 for receiving and supporting a golf ball (not shown). A point 24 may be formed at the distal end 16 of the shaft 12.

First indicia 26 is disposed on the golf tee 10, and more specifically may be disposed on the lateral surface 18 of the shaft on one side of the shaft 12. First indicia 26 may be formed for example by laser engraving.

The first indicia may comprise alphanumeric characters, such as letters of the Roman alphabet, which when arrayed in one order spell out a word or name which is generally known or recognizable to the public. As employed herein, the term “word” will be understood to encompass known names as well as common words. These alphanumeric characters are disposed on the golf tee 10 in a different order. In the example of FIG. 1, the letters I, K, R, D, and N may be reordered to spell the word “drink”.

FIG. 2 shows a golf tee 10 which comprises a shaft 12 having a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16. A lateral surface 18 is disposed between the proximal end 14 and the distal end 16. The proximal end 14 comprises an enlarged head 20. The enlarged head 20 may bear and end surface 22 for receiving and supporting a golf ball (not shown). A point 24 may be formed at the distal end 16 of the shaft 12.

First indicia 26 is disposed on the golf tee 10, and more specifically may be disposed on the lateral surface 18 of the shaft 12 on one side of the shaft 12. Although not visible in FIG. 2, the first indicia 26, which may comprise alphanumeric characters, such as letters of the Roman alphabet, which when arrayed in one order spell out a word which is generally known or recognizable to the public. The first indicia 26 may be the same as the first indicia 26 of FIG. 1, or alternatively may spell out a different word.

The golf tee 10 has second indicia 27 which is disposed on the lateral surface 18 of the shaft 12 on a side opposite the first indicia 26. Alternatively state d, the first indicia 26 may be located on that side of the shaft 12 which is visible after rotating the tee 10 about its longitudinal axis A by one hundred eighty degrees from the position shown in FIG. 2. It would be possible that the second indicia 27 include alphanumeric characters which are in an order different from that spelling out a known word. This may be the same known word as the indicia 26 or alternatively may when appropriately reordered, spell out a different word.

For example, the word spelled in proper order may comprise the name of a manufacturer or of any organization, so that the standing of the manufacturer or organization is promoted by exposure to the attention of the public by appearing on the tee 10. The second indicia 27, which as depicted is “Sealco”, may be for example such a name.

The first indicia 26 and the second indicia 27 may be formed for example by ink printing, or laser engraving.

It would be possible to locate additional indicia (not shown) on other places on a tee according to one or more aspects of the invention, such as on the surface 22.

It would be possible to use recognizable symbols as the additional indicia or as the second indicia 27. An example of a widely known or recognizable symbol is the arcuate symbol used by Nike®.

The present invention is susceptible to modifications and variations which may be introduced thereto without departing from the inventive concepts.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible. 

1. A golf tee comprising a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a lateral surface disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, an enlarged head at the proximal end of the shaft bearing an end surface for receiving and supporting a golf ball, a point formed at the distal end of the shaft, and first indicia disposed on the golf tee, wherein the first indicia comprises alphanumeric characters which when arrayed in one order spell out a word and which are disposed on the golf tee in a different order.
 2. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the first indicia is disposed on the lateral surface of the shaft.
 3. The golf tee of claim 1, further comprising second indicia also comprising alphanumeric characters which are arrayed in an order spelling out a word.
 4. The golf tee of claim 3, wherein the first indicia is disposed on the lateral surface of the shaft on one side of the shaft, and the second indicia is disposed on the lateral surface of the shaft on a side opposite the first indicia.
 5. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the word is a name.
 6. The golf tee of claim 5, wherein the first indicia is disposed on the lateral surface of the shaft on one side of the shaft, and the second indicia is disposed on the lateral surface of the shaft on a side opposite the first indicia.
 7. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the first indicia is laser engraved.
 8. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the first indicia is ink printed. 